Looking around the kitchen, Serena felt as if she had everything in place. She’d heated the precooked dinner without making the rice stick to the pot. A first. At some point, Serena figured she’d give actual cooking a chance. She dashed into the dining room and made sure the table was set properly. Then she lit the two candles in the center of the table and dimmed the lights. Next, she adjusted the straps on her little black dress and tugged at the cups of her teddy, thinking that when Antonio took her dress off, he was going to like what was underneath.
Her mind wandered back to Maurice’s comments at Jade’s house. Everybody is happier when they have somebody to share their life with.
“Easy for him to say,” she mumbled. “I’ve tried to share my life. Now all I want is instant gratification.”
With that thought in the air, Serena pulled her dress off and ran upstairs to hang it in her closet. She hadn’t really invited Antonio over to eat … dinner. But if he wanted to, it was there. Serena smiled at her sultry complexion in the mirror. The red teddy set off her creamy complexion and added blush to her cheeks that no amount of makeup could. She grabbed a bit of cocoa butter and smoothed it across her breasts. As soon as she finished, she heard the doorbell chime.
For a second, she considered putting her dress back on, but when the doorbell chimed again, she decided against it. Serena bounded down the stairs and opened the door.
“Hello,” she said. Antonio’s mouth flew open and he nearly dropped the bouquet of roses and box of sweets.
“Well, I guess I’m early, because you didn’t finish getting dressed.”
“You don’t like my outfit?” she asked as she spun around.
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “Oh, I like,” he said.
Serena took the flowers and the box from his hands and set them on the table near the door. With his hands free, Antonio was able to pull Serena against his chest. She felt the hardness of his manhood pressing against her thigh and instantly moisture pooled between her legs.
“What about dinner?” she asked as his hands stroked her back.
“You have a microwave, right?” he asked, pulling her closer. “Dinner will keep.”
Serena lifted her head and Antonio captured her lips in a searing kiss that sent jolts of desire though her system. She parted her lips and drew his tongue deeper into her mouth. Soft moans filled the air as he slipped his hands between her thighs and stroked her with his thumb. He could feel the pool of her desire through the crotch of her lingerie. Just the thought of her wetness and the sweet taste of it, made him harder. In a quick motion, he lifted her into his arms and carried her upstairs into her bedroom.
Once they crossed the threshold of the bedroom, Antonio laid her across the bed and drank in the image of her sexy body in red satin and lace. His mouth craved her taste and when she uncrossed her long, lean legs, he licked his lips then dove between her thighs. With the flat of his hand, he stroked her through the lingerie. Serena’s body was under his control as his fingers slipped between the satin and into her wet valley.
Her breath caught in her chest as his finger brushed against her pounding bud of desire. She was so wet, hot, and ready to feel him deep inside her. But Antonio had other plans for her. He had to taste her sweetness. He unsnapped the crotch of her teddy and lifted her hips to his lips. As she felt the heat from his breath against the folds of her flesh, her body tingled with anticipation, desire, and yearning. She wiggled her hips as if she was silently begging him to put the fire out that he’d lit inside her.
Heeding her silent pleas, Antonio slowly licked her wetness until she quivered in delight.
Serena’s moans penetrated the silence, reaching its crescendo when she climaxed. “Need. You,” Serena cried. “Now.”
Antonio pulled his mouth away from her, licking her juices from his lips as he unbuttoned his jeans and kicked out of them while Serena pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it on the floor. Rolling onto his back, Antonio pulled Serena on top of him and covered her mouth with his. He could feel the heat of her desire as they kissed and she ground against him. He wanted to dive inside her, take her then and there. But they needed protection. As Serena straddled him, he heard the rattle of a condom wrapper.
“You think of everything,” he said as she slid the condom down his erection. Serena smiled a sexy smile then leaned in and brushed her lips against his. Antonio ran his tongue across her full bottom lip and she arched her back like a cat lounging in the sun. He felt her heat and gripped her hips, bring her opening to the tip of his erection. She took the length of him inside her, moaning in pleasure as he raised his hips while she ground against him. Serena gripped his shoulders as he pressed deeper, seemingly trying melt into him. Her hips moved with the rhythm of a cadence drum. Antonio fell in stride with her, meeting her strokes and stirring her juices until she cried out as another orgasm attacked her senses.
Wrapping his arm around her waist, he flipped her over onto her back, taking total control of their encounter. Antonio covered her taut nipple with his mouth as she rotated her hips underneath his. He sucked her nipple, gently biting her as he felt his climax building. Serena wrapped her legs around his waist and squeezed her thighs tightly around him as his lips and tongue danced across her chest.
Unable to hold back his desire, Antonio exploded inside her. He held her against his chest as he collapsed onto the bed. Sweat covered their bodies as they both released satisfied sighs. “Amazing,” he murmured as he nuzzled against Serena’s neck.
“That’s what I was going to say about you,” she whispered as her head rested on his chest. Serena stroked his arm and smiled. “So, are you ready to eat?”
“Woman, I can’t even move,” Antonio said.
“Good, because I can’t either,” she replied with a laugh.
Antonio closed his eyes and Serena smiled at him, feeling so comfortable in his arms. The comfort she felt with him was a shock to her system. This is just about pleasure, remember, she silently told herself. Don’t read more into this.
“What are you thinking about over there?” Antonio asked when he opened his eyes and caught Serena’s gaze.
“Nothing,” she replied, offering him a sweet smile.
Antonio reached up and stroked her cheek. “I can tell you what’s on my mind,” he said. “I like being around you. I haven’t felt like this since I was a teenager.”
“Well, I’ve had a thing for you since our first kiss,” she said honestly.
“Really, I couldn’t tell,” he joked. “But I’m sure you’ve noticed the feeling is mutual. So what happens next?”
Serena sighed. Next was the problem. She didn’t want to think about next. Next meant the chance she’d be hurt again. “I don’t know.”
“We’ve pretty much passed the taking it slow part. And I don’t really do casual,” he said.
“Let’s just take it one day at a time,” she said as she pressed her hand against his chest. Antonio propped up on his elbow and looked down at her.
“It’s been a while since I’ve done this, so I probably should’ve asked sooner. Is there someone else in Atlanta?” he asked.
“No, there’s not. But, honestly,” she said, “I can’t plan my future right now because I don’t know how long I’m going to be in Charlotte. I just know I want to spend many nights just like this—with you and no one else.”
Antonio fell silent and Serena wondered if she’d laid it on a little too thick. She couldn’t open up to him right then. She was afraid. If it had been anyone else, she would’ve laughed.
“Well, let’s take it one day at a time until you’re ready,” he said.
“Until I’m ready? What about you?”
“I haven’t dated much since my wife died. I’ve had other obligations and things to focus on. But seeing you last year, I knew it was time. When I kissed you, I knew I had to have you.”
“I couldn’t tell. You bolted out of the hotel like you had a colony of fire ants in you
r pants,” she said with a laugh. Then she slipped her hands underneath the blanket and stroked his penis, bringing it back to life. “But now, I know just what is in your pants.”
It didn’t take them long to forget about the cold dinner downstairs and start making love all over again.
Chapter 9
It was three A.M. before Serena and Antonio made it to the kitchen for dinner. Though the meal Jade had cooked was still in the pots on the stove, Serena fixed their plates and popped them in the microwave, afraid that she’d scorch the food if she tried to heat it up on the stove.
“Tell me again how you got into the restaurant business?” Antonio asked when she took the plates out of the microwave.
“I know what food should taste like. It doesn’t mean I’m chained to the stove cooking it,” Serena said as she set his plate in front of him.
“Chains, interesting choice of words,” he quipped. Antonio dug into his meal and smiled after taking the first bite. “Not bad.”
“Glad you like it,” she said as she took a bite of the food.
“I can tell that it isn’t frozen, so I’m really impressed,” Antonio said.
“So,” Antonio said. “Now that I know you can master dinner, what’s for breakfast?”
Serena grinned. “I have oat bran flakes.”
“Why don’t I cook you breakfast?” he asked. “That is if I’m invited to spend the night.”
“It’s already morning, so I’d say you’ve already spent the night,” she said.
Antonio reached across the table and stroked the back of Serena’s hand. “You’re right. But as long as it’s dark, it’s still nighttime in my book. Since I don’t have to trek into the restaurant, I can return to bed.”
“That sounds good to me,” she said as she rose from her chair and sauntered over to him. Serena eased onto his lap and locked her legs around his waist. “But we don’t have to go straight to bed.”
Antonio wrapped his arms around her waist. “That’s fine with me,” he said as Serena brought her lips down on his neck. His desire grew against her thighs, causing Serena to moan when she felt his hardness against her. Traveling down his neck to his chest, she took one of his nipples between her teeth and he thrust his hips into hers. She wanted him right then as she ground against his hardness, becoming wetter and wetter as he matched her sensual movements. In one quick motion, Antonio rose from the chair holding on to Serena tightly.
“Now it’s time for bed,” he said as he rushed toward the stairs. Her hot kisses made each step up the staircase excruciating. Antonio’s erection throbbed relentlessly as he took the final step and crossed the threshold of the bedroom. As he placed Serena on the edge of the bed, she grasped his hips pulling him against her lips. She blazed a trail with her tongue from his navel to the tip of his erection. Antonio’s knees trembled as she took the length of him into her mouth.
“Oh, Serena,” he moaned as her fingers danced up and down the length of his erection while she worked her mouth. Antonio buried his hands in her curly hair as he felt the grips of his climax coming. Serena pulled back from him and slipped out of her robe. He pounced on to her, ready to taste every inch of her tantalizing body, starting with her diamond-hard nipples. As Antonio’s tongue alternated between her breasts, Serena moaned in delight. His journey took him down her flat belly to the V of her thighs. Slowly, he kissed her upper thighs, parting her legs and slipping his finger between the wet folds of her flesh. Serena arched her back into Antonio’s touch. His finger stroked her desire until she felt as if the Atlantic Ocean was running between her legs, but when he replaced his finger with his tongue, Serena exploded.
She gripped the sheets and cried out loudly as Antonio lapped her juices like a man dying of thirst. “Antonio, Antonio,” she called out as she felt her fourth orgasm coming down.
Pulling back from her, he looked at the satisfied look on Serena’s face and smiled. She was beautiful. She was quickly becoming a sweet addiction he couldn’t get enough of.
She opened her eyes and met Antonio’s gaze. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I was simply admiring the view,” he said as he reached for a condom from the nightstand. “You’re a beautiful woman.”
“You’re not so bad yourself,” she replied as she watched him roll the sheath in place. Antonio eased on top of her, melting into her body, making her moan as they became one. Slowly, they rocked back and forth, their bodies in sync as well as their heartbeats. Serena locked her legs around his waist as Antonio pumped his hips into hers like a smooth jazz beat.
“Serena, damn baby,” he whispered as their pace quickened and he felt the build up of his climax.
Her response was to tighten herself around him and close her mouth on his neck. The heat from her kiss pushed him over the edge and Antonio spilled his desire, then collapsed on top of her. They shifted against each other until Serena’s head ended up resting on his chest. He brushed his lips across her forehead as they looked up at the glass ceiling watching the sky change from inky black to dawn’s faint pink. It didn’t take long for the couple to drift off to sleep.
The ringing of a phone woke Serena and Antonio around nine A.M. Serena started to reach for her phone, then realized the generic ringtone wasn’t hers. She tapped Antonio on the shoulder when he didn’t move. “Are you going to get that?”
“I’d better,” he groaned as he reached for his pants to retrieve his phone. Looking at the CALLER ID, Antonio shook his head. It was Casey.
“Yeah?” he said when he answered.
“Where are you?” Casey asked. “I figured we could have breakfast together since A.J. is camping. I even picked up some shrimp and grits but you’re not at home. Are you on a job site?”
“No, Casey. I’m sorry you went to the house. You should’ve called first,” he said.
“I did, but when you didn’t answer, I figured you were sleeping in.”
Antonio sighed and sat up in the bed. “Why don’t I call you later? A.J. and I will see you on Sunday.” He snapped his phone shut just as Serena sprinted from the bed.
She closed herself up in the bathroom feeling angry and confused as she turned the water on and sighed. Yes, she’d heard a female voice on the phone but what right did she have to be jealous? She’d said she wanted a brief fling with him—which meant she had no claim on him nor could she get upset about who called him.
“Get it together,” she whispered as she splashed water on her face. “He isn’t your man.” Still the green-eyed monster had Serena in her cold grip. If that’s his woman then fine. I’ve gotten what I’ve wanted and I can go right back to Atlanta as soon as the restaurant relaunches.
A soft knock on the door brought Serena out of her thoughts. “Yes?” she said trying to keep her voice cool and detached.
“Are you all right in there?”
Say yes, say yes, she told herself. But instead of responding, Serena shut the water off and opened the door. “I was just giving you space to talk to your woman,” she said, all of the coolness drained from her voice. So much for being cool, moron, Serena thought.
When Antonio smirked at her, Serena felt a surge of anger course through her system. “Well, don’t let me hold you up from your woman,” she snapped. “If you need to leave you know your way to the door.”
“That wasn’t my woman. I told you I’m single. That was my sister-in-law.”
Serena folded her arms across her chest as she looked at him. Part of her could understand why his dead wife’s sister would want to remain close to him. She probably felt a connection with him because of her sister, but Serena wondered how deep that connection went. What if they were more than just family? Suppose he and his sister-in-law had started something that was more than familial?
“Whatever,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what you and your sister-in-law do.”
“We don’t do anything. Casey stays close to me because she wants to continue to have a connection with her sister and she has that t
hrough my son,” Antonio said.
Serena blinked in rapid succession. “Son?”
He nodded. “I have a five-year-old son, which has a lot to do with why you think I was running hot and cold with you when we first met.”
“Wow,” she said quietly. “A son. I had no idea that you were … That’s a lot of responsibility.”
Antonio nodded. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love my son and he’s the most important thing in my life.”
Serena leaned against the wall, her head reeling from the fact that Antonio wasn’t seeing another woman, but was a father. “So, where’s your son now?”
“Camping with Norman and his grandsons.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner that you had a son?” she asked as she ran her hand across her face.
He shrugged his shoulders. “I know that some women run as soon as they find out I have a son or they immediately think I’m trying to make them A.J.’s new mother. I had no idea what was between us but from the look on your face, I’m thinking you’re a runner.”
“This is a bit more than I expected, but I’m not a runner.”
“Good, because I like you, and when the time is right, I’d like to introduce you to my son.”
Serena offered a small smile. Though she said she wasn’t a runner, she wasn’t ready to be a step-mommy either. It wasn’t that she didn’t like kids. She just preferred liking them from a distance. She sighed inwardly. Her thoughts were selfish, but she wondered how Antonio’s son would change what they had. Should she run? Finally, she said, “That would be nice, one day.”
“So, are you ready for breakfast?” he asked, cocking his eyebrow.
“Just coffee. I actually have to go and see Jade in a little bit,” she said as she looked at the clock on the nightstand. “I didn’t realize how late it was.” Serena felt horrible lying to him, but she didn’t know if she could handle dealing with a man who had the responsibility of raising a son.
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